State News

Center for Digital Government Gives Connecticut an Overall Grade of A- and Third Place Citing Leadership and Collaboration

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Center for Digital Government has given Connecticut national recognition for its ongoing digital government efforts, awarding the state with a grade of A- and ranking it third in the nation for information technology leadership. The recognition was included as part of the organization’s 2022 Digital States Survey. Governor Lamont has made it a priority during his administration to build an all-digital state government that provides Connecticut’s residents and businesses with the tools necessary to digitally connect with services administered by the state. “I am proud of the work by our state employees and agencies as they modernize services for residents,” Governor Lamont said. “Connecticut is once again being nationally recognized for cross-agency collaborations…

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Home Heating Assitance Urged

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the governors of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont today sent the following letter to Congressional leaders thanking them for their longstanding support of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and expressing their support for President Joe Biden’s request for an emergency supplemental aid package that will provide additional federal funding for home heating assistance this winter:  September 26, 2022 Dear Chairwoman DeLauro, Ranking Member Granger, Chairman Leahy, and Vice Chairman Shelby: As Congress prepares a continuing resolution (CR) for the start of the 2023 fiscal year, we write to thank you for Congress’s commitment to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to urge you to include emergency supplemental funding of the…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG LEADS CALL TO FCC TO EXPAND ANTI-ROBOCALL PROTECTIONS

(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong led a multistate coalition of 51 attorneys general calling on the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to expand anti-robocall protections. Specifically, the attorneys general urge the FCC to require all telephone providers that route calls across the U.S. telephone network to implement more rigorous measures to prevent illegal and fraudulent robocalls from bombarding Americans. “Anti-robocall technology works, but only if everyone uses it. Last month, our Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force issued 20 civil investigative demands to 20 of these providers that we believe are responsible for routing a majority of foreign robocall traffic into our country. It is specifically these types of gateway and intermediate providers that must take stronger action to filter out…

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SENATOR DEMANDS M&T BANK COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS AFFECTED BY CONVERSION FAILURES

Hartford, CT– Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led a group of Senators in sending a letter to M&T Bank urging the company to financially compensate customers who were affected by conversion failures during the transition of People’s United Bank accounts to M&T accounts. “We write to request that M&T Bank commit to financially compensate all customers who incurred fees as a result of missed credit card, utility, or other payments, due to M&T Bank’s mishandling of the acquisition of People’s United Bank,” the Senators wrote. “Additionally, all customers who were unable to access their funds during the conversion should receive some appropriate financial remuneration for the inconvenience, as well as an apology.” Since the conversion at the beginning of September, new…

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Stamford Bomb Squad

Last week The Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security conducted a preparedness and response field day at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. This was a show and tell of their equipment and how they share their resources from Greenwich to Bridgeport. Here is Stamford's Explosive Ordnance Disposal also known as the Bomb Squad. https://youtu.be/w8wgT-DV0Tc

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ON NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY, MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO MAKE REGISTERING TO VOTE EASIER FOR ALL AMERICANS

WASHINGTON–On National Voter Registration Day, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined 15 of their colleagues to introduce two pieces of legislation to make it easier for Americans to register to vote and to know their registration status.The Same Day Voter Registration Act would require states to offer same day registration at polling locations on Election Day and during early voting. The Stop Automatically Voiding Eligible Voters Off Their Enlisted Rolls in States (SAVE VOTERS) Act would prohibit states from removing people from their voting rolls unless the state has obtained objective, reliable evidence that a voter is ineligible to vote and establishes notification requirements once a voter is removed. These bills were included as part of…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL URGES FTC TO STRENGTHEN CAR RULES TO PREVENT CONSUMER HARM, MISREPRESENTATIONS

Automobile issues regularly top consumer complaints for AG offices (Hartford, CT) - Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general calling on the Federal Trade Commission to adopt and strengthen guidance on automobile sales. The comment letter supports the FTC’s proposed updates to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule related to the sale, financing, and leasing of motor vehicles by motor vehicle dealers, while proposing several suggestions to further strengthen the rule. The proposed Rule, published in the Federal Register on July 13, would provide a critical tool to address misrepresentations and prevent consumer harm. “No one likes surprise fees and unexpected add-ons when purchasing a car. Last year alone, our office received more than 500 car-related complaints.…

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Stefanowski Reacts

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS ANSWERS FROM M&T BANK REGARDING CONNECTICUT JOB COMMITMENTS, CUSTOMER SERVICE

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued a letter to M&T Bank expressing concern and seeking information regarding numerous complaints from consumers and employees following the conversion from People’s United Bank. In his letter, Attorney General Tong seeks information regarding commitments made by M&T Bank to its Connecticut workforce, as well as identification of a high-level representative to expedite complaints filed with the Office of the Attorney General. “I share your customers’ outrage at the serious lack of preparation for this conversion. M&T’s poor planning cost Connecticut customers timely access to their banking records, their bill pay systems, and their money. Connecticut customers wasted hours of time on hold and in branches trying to sort out problems that should…

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